News
Shock report on Sure Start
Continued frompage one Attendance at some groups was
low and insufficient action was taken to target the priority sectors or follow upmissed appointments. Nationally, children’s centres are
well-attended, but numbers in Maidstonewere disappointing. A spokesman for KCC said in- spectors had identified the “highly- motivated, competent and dynamic district manager” who would con- tinue to drive forward the necessary improvements. Patrick Leeson, KCC’s corporate director of education, said: “Changes are underway at this group of centres.We are pleased Of- sted has recognised so many posi- tives that we can build upon, such as our work in promoting breast- feeding and healthy eating, the sup- port offered to families of children with special educational needs, plus our adult learning programmes. “I would like to reassure parents
that every child known to the cen- tres has been reviewed and we are satisfied that appropriate safe- guarding arrangements are in place. Our workforce is now in place to make sure we can deliver the high quality of service our families de- serve.”
downsmail.co.uk
Communitywardens at risk from budget cuts
RESIDENTS in Maidstone could lose community wardens after KCC announced their numbers could be reduced. After explaining that the author-
ity needed to save £330m over the next three years, a spokesman said: “Among several options being dis- cussed and considered is a reduc- tion in the number of wardens, managers and support staff in the service”.
Although no decisions have been
taken,Maidstone Council’s cabinet member for communities, Cllr John Perry, said: ”We are all up against it financially but this still seems a strange thing to do. Community
BIG names of international cricket will play at The Mote on Sunday, August 31 when four teams com- pete in three Twenty20 overs games for a new cup. Two games start at 10am when
star-studded Lashings play the Houses of Parliament and The
wardens are very familiar with their local areas so they are very well known, working alongside PCSOs.”
Communitywardenswere intro-
duced in Kent more than a decade ago. They cannot make arrests but provide a visible uniformed pres- ence and provide assistance, wher- ever possible, when a problem arises. In the Maidstone borough there are seven wardens, a district support warden and warden su- pervisor. Janet Jennings, former vice-chair-
man of the neighbourhood watch scheme in Lenham, said: “We have not got policemen on the beat any
Mote CC take on the RAC Club. Winners contest a final at 4pm. The Lashings squad include
South African run machine Her- schelle Gibbs (now a Maidstone resident), Desmond Haynes, CourtneyWalsh,Devon Malcolm, Andy Caddick,Mark Ealham and
more so instead we have commu- nity wardens and they are doing a really good job. They have a close contact with local people.” The KCC spokesman added that
any reduction in wardens “would be accompanied by a reorganisa- tion whichwould result in continu- ing support for communities in differentways, with the possibility of reaching and serving more resi- dents”. Brian Clark, Lib Dem shadow
KCC cabinet member for commu- nities, said: “Our group will be challenging any proposed changes to minimise impact to communities across Kent.”
Cricket stars to play at Mote family day
Matthew Hoggard. The Mote CC is organising a big
family day and is opening the pavilion and bar (with televised Premier League football) to the public – and is running a barbecue. A charity raffle will help the local PeggyWood Foundation.
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Maidstone Town September 2014
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